I said, "There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful. And yet, with my own eyes I have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the LORD made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved.

Nothing clean can ever come from anything as unclean as human beings.

Can any human being be really pure? Can anyone be right with God?

And we drink evil as if it were water; yes, we are corrupt; we are worthless.

Can anyone be righteous or pure in God's sight?

(SEE 40:3)

In the past I knew only what others had told me, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

So I am ashamed of all I have said and repent in dust and ashes.

I have been evil from the day I was born; from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.

I know that good does not live in me---that is, in my human nature. For even though the desire to do good is in me, I am not able to do it.

What an unhappy man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is taking me to death?

In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins.

At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God.

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and wrong. We were slaves to passions and pleasures of all kinds. We spent our lives in malice and envy; others hated us and we hated them.

You think that what you do is right, but I will expose your conduct, and your idols will not be able to help you.

Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes.

and be completely united with him. I no longer have a righteousness of my own, the kind that is gained by obeying the Law. I now have the righteousness that is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith.

You say, 'I am rich and well off; I have all I need.' But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind.

I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see.

One of the elders asked me, "Who are these people dressed in white robes, and where do they come from?"

A voice cries out, "Proclaim a message!" "What message shall I proclaim?" I ask. "Proclaim that all human beings are like grass; they last no longer than wild flowers.

Yes, grass withers and flowers fade, but the word of our God endures forever."

You carry us away like a flood; we last no longer than a dream. We are like weeds that sprout in the morning,

that grow and burst into bloom, then dry up and die in the evening.

and the rich Christians must be glad when God brings them down. For the rich will pass away like the flower of a wild plant.

The sun rises with its blazing heat and burns the plant; its flower falls off, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way the rich will be destroyed while they go about their business.

As the scripture says, "All human beings are like grass, and all their glory is like wild flowers. The grass withers, and the flowers fall,

but the word of the Lord remains forever." This word is the Good News that was proclaimed to you.

When you cry for help, let those idols of yours save you! A puff of wind will carry them off ! But those who trust in me will live in the land and will worship me in my Temple."

But evil people are not like this at all; they are like straw that the wind blows away.

The time is coming when the people of Jerusalem will be told that a scorching wind is blowing in from the desert toward them. It will not be a gentle wind that only blows away the chaff---

the wind that comes at the LORD's command will be much stronger than that! It is the LORD himself who is pronouncing judgment on his people.

They will be carried away as by the wind, and they will be ashamed of their pagan sacrifices.

The angel said, "This represents wickedness." Then he pushed her down into the basket and put the lid back down.

I asked the angel, "Where are they taking it?"